Fruit preparation machine



June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETAL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 \Jlll T IF'E Ill I I E INVENTORS WILL/AH DE BACK SYLVIO PUCCIf/ELLI BYMMM ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK EI'AL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 up] l \NVENTORS 1 WILL/AM DE BACK SYLVIO PuccuvELu ATTORNEY 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK E FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 $9 09 4% Wm m9 vfi $4 QR Nu 0 mm 8 $1 5 H m h 3 v 9Q wn m3 m H m NM. QW\ Mm km\ Nm Q3 QE m QN m3 fi g k if: m A y N: m NR\ 14 N T\\\\. a? k NM a w S I N3 1 m$ SR R\ MQ Q o 0 mg I a m:

Q "Ma H WLLIA BE BACK ."J LVIO PUCCINELL! BY h kA w ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETA!- 2,940,493

' FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6. 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 a; N LU Q s H //l //441/ P Q0NQ wuss NE m HQ QM D 8% 89 Q INVENTORS WILLIAM DE BACK $YLVIO PUCCINELLI ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETA!- 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS WILLIAM 05 846K SYLVIO PUGGINELLI m 90 mo ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETAL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet '7 g mvau'rons WILL/AU BE BACK $YLVIO PUCCINELLI BY Hm ATTORNEY "F1 EL June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK EI'AL FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6. 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS WILL/AA! DE BACK $YLV/0 PUGCINELL/ BY W 9, JWW

ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK EI'AL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6. 1949 I 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR 5 WILLIAM 05' 810K SYLWO PUCGINELLI ATTORNEY Maw.

June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK E.TAL

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 m! I! u l HF mvsmoas WILL/A DE ICK SYLV/o PUCCINELLI BY H1444 JW ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETA!- 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6. 1949 15 SheetsSheet 12 11 3...:32 IE'II3 2I:I

INVENTORS WILL/Al! 05 BACK SYL V10 PULOIIIE LL I ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETAL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 15 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTORS WILLIAM DE BACK SYLVIO PUfli/NELL/ m N m H F ATTORNEY my, 51W

June 14, 1960 w. DE BACK ETAL 2,940,493

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 6. 1949 l5 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORS WILLIAM at 0.4 ox

snwa PUCCIIVELLI BYWiW/ZJ.

ATTORNEY June 14, 1960 w, 135 BACK EI'AL FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Original Filed Sept. 6, 1949 INVENTQRS WILL/AN DE BICK SYLV/a PUCCIHELL/ BY W ATTORNEY United States Patent FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Original application Sept. 6, 1949, Ser. No. 114,168, now Patent No. 2,699,191, dated Jan. 11, 1955. Divided and this application Jan. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 480,422

18 Claims. (Cl. 146-43) This invention appertains to fruit preparation machines, and relates more particularly to improvements in mechanism for preparing fruit, such as pears, for canning or drying.

This application is a division of our co-pending application, U.S. Serial No. 114,168, filed September 6, 1949, now Patent No. 2,699,191, issued January 11, 1955.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved high speed fruit preparation machine.

Another object is to provide a fruit preparation machine wherein a fruit is accurately positioned with relation to its stem-blossom axis, and the angular and rotative positions of the fruit are thereafter changed in predeterminded sequence relatively to said axis to facilitate and improve the performance of a succession of fruit preparation steps.

Another object is to provide improved stemming tube operation in a fruit preparation machine by tilting the stemming tubes between upright and horizontal position at predetermined stages in their travel through the machine.

Another object is to provide improved stemming tube positioning, tilting and rotating mechanisms at predetermined stages throughout a cycle of operation of a fruit preparation machine.

Another object is to provide means for retaining a fruit against endwise displacement under axial stresses during an endwise peeling out without obstructing the operation of the peeling instrumentality used in making the peeling cut.

Another object is to provide a mechanism with tiltable stemming tubes for receiving fruit in axially impaled condition thereon with the tubes in upright position, and then for tilting the tubes to dispose the fruit in axially horizontal position, and moving the fruit in the latter position along a predetermined path past a peeling device.

Another object is to provide a fruit preparation machine having a plurality of tiltable and axially rotatable stemming tubes with off-center fruit retaining means mounted to hold a fruit against withdrawal from a stemming tube upon which it is impaled, without interference with a peeling device adapted to take a longitudinal peeling cut extending the entire length of the fruit.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for holding a rotating pear against endwise displacement from a supporting impaling holder during a peeling operation by a rotatable retainer axially offset from the pears stemblossom axis, and rotated to minimize frictional engagement with the pear.

Another object is to provide improved fruit peeling facilities for a fruit preparation machine.

Another object is to provide an improved fruit-peeling mechanism whereby a fruit is carried around a circular path with its stem-blossom axis substantially tangent to such path, the fiuit being slowly rotated about its axis while passing a plurality of stationary spring biased peeling devices.

- 2,940,493 Patented June 14, 1960 These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent'from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the drive or peeling side of a fruit preparation machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the fruit ejecting side of the machine, the view illustrating the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the upper half of the machine taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the lower half of the machine taken along the same line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in the same plane as Fig. 4 and showing a portion of a stemming tube turret, a stemming tube bushing being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along the line 7- -7 of Fig. 4 and showing the stemming tube drive mechanism, certain portions being broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a stemming tube drive gear taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a stemming tube drive assembly with an outer end cover removed and a portion of the stemming tube hub and drive shaft housing broken away.

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the stemming tube outer end cover removed from the showing in Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive show somewhat diagrammatically, as on a curved vertical sect-ion taken just outside the stemming tube cam tracks, the mechanism for controlling the tilting of the stemming tubes and their rotation about their own axis.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged perspective of the inner or driven end of a stemming tube assembly as it would appear when removed from the machine, a portion ofthe stemming tube hub and the outer end portion of the stemming tube assembly being broken away.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along line 1818 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 19 is a planiform diagrammatic development of a cam track for tilting the stemming tubes and associated locking ring and rack for controlling operation of the stemming tubes.

Fig. 20 is a horizontal enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 21 and 22 are enlarged fragmentary lower perspective and top plan views, respectively, of a marginal portion of one of the stemming tube tilting cam plates shown in Fig. 20, showing one of four spring pressed segments inserted in the cam track for maintaining the stemming tubes in absolute vertical position during fruit transferring operations.

Fig. 23 is a somewhat diagrammatichorizontal sect-ion of the machine taken along line 2323 of Fig. 4, parts other than those pertaining to the operation of the peeling mechanisms being omitted.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 2323 of Fig. 4, a pear being shown in broken lines in position on one of the stemming tubes, and the middle portions of a plurality of cam actuated peeling arm control links and also of a plurality of peeling arm biasing springs being broken away.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective peeling arm assembly and its supporting parts.

Before entering into a detailed description of the illuspimport will, mean radially outwardly or inwardly relatively to the central vertical axis of the machine, while -fo r'wardlyf and frearwa rdly. and 'words of similar. im- Lport will mean forwardly or rearwardly with respect to i.the rot'ative direction of the continuously rotating The terms clockwise and 1 icounterclockwise?indicate the direction ofrotat-ion as stemming tube turre viewedffrom above the maehine. a V

A- fruit feeding station A (Figs. gl, 2 and 3), at which an operator. stands and feedsfruit into .the machine two at a time, is adapted to receive and support containers, or lug boxes as they are called, of the fruit-to be pre- .pared, in; this instance pears, from an ordinary rollerv fjconveyorBZ Anu'mber' of lug boxes are kept constantly at hand onthe conveyor, so that as soon as one is emptied another will be immediately available. It will be understood, .of course, that automatic feeding mechanism "may be. substituted for the hand feeding arrangement illustrated. Such a mechanism is' shown for example in the US. patent to Albert R. Thompson, No. 2,596,798.

I The feeding station A has two feed cups to receive the pears, stem' end down, from the operator. These feed cups'are in fruit receiving condition practically all of the time, so that it is not necessary for the operator to maintain a 'closelytimed synchronism of operation with the machine. This tends to speed up operation and greatlyreduces operator tenseness and fatigue. The stem a ends ofjthe pears are trimmed ofl in the feed cups just prior to their release therefrom.

A continuously rotating stemming tube turret C (Figs.

7 l and 4) is mounted directly beneath the feed cups. A "fruit transfer mechanism D is mounted for combined .rotatively .oscillating and vertically reciprocating move jment to-describe a path along a curved upright surface between the feed mechanism and the stemming tube tur-' ret. The operation of the transfer mechanism D is so timed with relation to' the interrnittent operation of the feed mechanism A and the continuous rotation of the,

' stemming tube. turret C, as to positionthe transfer means 'D directly beneath the feed cupslwhenthey open to discharge their fruit. The transfenmeans receives the fruit "thus dropped, and then,.after aligning the fruit axially, moves the fruit slowly downwardly and swings it in tubes, as they pass beneath the splitting station F, and draws the pears upwardly onto station F where the halving, seed cell severing and calyx trimming operations are performed.

Thereafter the fruit halves, now completely prepared, are released by the gripping'means G and are ejected from the machine. This completes the fruit preparation cycle, and immediately thereafter the now upright stemming tubes from which the pears were. removed by the gripping D whereupon the above cycleis repeated. 1;

jmeans again pass into alignment with the transfer means 7 Thepresent divisional, application is particularly concerned'with thefr uit'peeling mechanism lat stage E., The

fruitfeeding and stem .end gauging mechanisms at station A are completely disclosed in the previously mentioned parent application, S.N. 114,168, now Patent No. 2,699,191, issued January 11, 1955, as is also the stem end trimming mechanism, the fruit transfer and impaling mechanism, the fruit splitting, seed cell severing,

and calyx trimming apparatus, and thecontrol mechanism. The parent application should be referred to for acornrprehensive description and complete illustrations of these mechanisms.

, Frame structure and drive H The general arrangementof the machine and its principal operating assemblies and the manner of driving these principal assemblies by mechanical drive means will now beset forth. It will facilitate an understanding of the illustrative embodimentof the invention if it is borne .in mind that the mechanisms pertainingto the orbital travel of the fruit around the machine are driven mechanically, while the mechanisms pertaining to fruit .pn astemrning tube (Fig. 4). Thereafter, 'the transfer l means releases the fruit, is raised clear of the fruit, and

again is returned to .fruitre ceiving positionjbeneath the feeding, impaling, calyx trimming, seed celling, splitting and ejecting are principally operated by pneumatically actuated mechanisms controlled by camactuated valves operated in timely relation with the mechanical driving mechanism. While having certain advantages, vitis obvious, of course, that the pneumatic operation of the illustrated embodiment. of the invention could bereplaced by a designer of ordinary skill, with mechanical actuating means such .as the usual links,,levers, cams, gears and the like employed for such purposes.

It will be'of assistance in visualizing the machine as a whole to join the lowerbroken line of Fig. 4 with the upper broken line of Fig. 5. This willprovide a composite :vertical sectional view of the entire machinealong the line 44 of Figure 3.

The present machine, has a. three part supporting base and drive housing 100 (Figs. 1 2 and 5') comprising a circular lower base portion 101 of inverted cup shape with supporting legs 102 thereon. Asubstaritially cylindrical "feed cups in time to receive the next fruit discharged e e m. ,i r

Afterapear has been'impaled on a stemming tube, the tube. is tilted rearWar'dly fromthe vertical position,

7 fwhich it occupies .duringthe transfer tothe stemming "tube stage of. the cycle, to an axially horizontal position.

' [In this horizontal posit-ion the stemming tube, and the 7 pear impaled thereon, are; slowly rotated about their -common :axis. iWhile thus rotating, the pear is carried past-a peeling sta'ge'E, .Fig. 1, 'where successive spiral strips of peel are cut lengthwise from the fruit.

After passing the peeling stage of the cycle the stemming .tube and the pear thereon again are swung to axially up- "right position, and pass beneath a combined fruit halving or splitting, seed. cell severing, and calyx trimming station 5F (Fig. 2). Thislatter, station is mounted to oscillate ,'back and forth in timed relation with the operation of thefruit transferring mechanism D and the continuously rotating stemming tube turret C. I V

A fruit gripping meansG (Fig. 2) is mounted to oscillate with the transfer means C and the splitting, calyx trimming and seed cell severing station F. The gripping means reaches down and grips the pears on the stemming lowermost base portion 101.

.is secured-to an inwardly projecting intermediate baseportion. 103 is mounted on the lower base portion 101, and an upper. cup shaped base portion 104 is mounted :on the upper. edge; ofthe intermediate portion 103. An oil sump, and ,bottom closure plate 105 flange 101 in the Acircular horizontal waste troughf108 .(Fig. 4) for catching the cores and peclingsproduced during the operation of the machine, surrounds the'upper end of the uppermost base portion .104 and forms an; integral part thereof. A lug box table 109 (Fig.4) for supporting lug boxes 110, indicated ingdotted lines in Fig. l,- is mounted on a supporting bracketdll, which is secured'by' cap screws 112 (Figs. 4 and 5) to a side of the'intermediate baseportion 103, and also to bosses 113provided on a side of the annular. waste trough 108. This bracket 111 also supports a'fruit feed table 114 '(Fig. 3) formed integrally with the feed table109... Aflpair offeed cup assemblies 115 (Fig. 3) are .mountcdon the feed table.

The top closure plate 116 (Fig.- 5) .of the lowermost base portion 101,. has a downwardlyextendingboss 117 formed centrally thereof. This boss has an internally threaded hole axially therethrough, into which a threaded bearing support bushing 118 is screwed. The bushing is secured in adjusted position by a set screw 119. The bushing 118 has the annular inner race of a roller bearing 121 fitted into an annular recess around its upper end as shown in Fig. 5. The roller bearing 121 is mounted rotatably to support the lower end of a. barrel cam 122 which vertically reciprocates a fruit transfer head 120 (Fig. 4) of the transfer mechanism D..

The barrel cam 122 is a composite member, as best shown in Fig. 5, and comprises a lower cylindrical cam portion 123 formed integrally with a lower, driven gear portion 124. The lower cylindrical cam portion has a cam face 125 formed on the upper edge thereof. A complementary upper cylindrical cam portion 127 has a lower cam face 128 thereon spaced from the cam face 125 on the lower cam portion 123 by a distance suflicient to permit a cam follower roller 129 to operate between these two cam faces. The upper and lower barrel cam portions 123 and 127 are secured rigidly together in axially aligned adjusted relation by a surrounding cylindrical sleeve 130 which is secured to the upper and lower cam portions by screws 131. The upper barrel cam portion 127 is journaled on a bushing 132 which is mounted on the lower projecting end of a stationary, tubular, central column 133 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The tubular central column 133 has a press fit in an upwardly projecting central boss 134 formed on the bottom plate of the uppermost base portion 104. The column is secured against rotation in this boss by a key 135 (Figs. 4 and 5 A pair of stationary annular cam tracks 137 and 138 (Figs. 4 and 6) for controlling the tilting movements of fruit carriers or stemming tubes 139 as they travel in a circular horizontal orbit around the machine, are mounted on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of an annular hub 140. The hub 140 is mounted on the stationary tubular central column 133, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, and is secured thereto by a locating key 141 (Fig. 4), and a jamb nut 142 and sleeve 143 (Fig. 18) which are inserted in a hole 144 drilled transversely through the hub. The hole 144 opens substantially tangentially into the axial bore of the hub. The jamb nut and sleeve are drawn into tight frictional engagement with the stationary central column 133 by a bolt 145. V

A ring 150 having a segmental toothed rack 151 (Fig. 18) cut in the upper side thereof, and a stemming tube gear locking ring 152 (Figs. 4 and 6) are bolted in superposed relation on the lower cam track 138 for purposes to be explained later herein. An abutment ring 153 (Figs. 1

4, 6 and 7.) is pressed onto the slightly reduced upper end of the hub 140 to seat in the shoulder formed by the oifset between the lower and upper portions of the hub. The abutment ring 153 is of hard smooth metal such as heavy chrome-plated steel, and is'positioned so that the inner ends of stemming tube drive shafts 154 ride along it to receive the thrust of these shafts created upon their rotation by a worm gear to be described later herein.

A stationary mounting flange 155 (Figs. 4 and 6) is clamped tightly around the upper end of the stationary central column 133, and a stationary peeling arm pivot support plate 157 (Fig. 4) is secured to this flange by screws 158. A grease seal retaining washer 159 is secured in place on the plate supporting flange 155 by screws 160. The peeling arm pivot support plate 157 (Figs. 4 and 25) fixedly supports the upper ends of a plurality of upright peeling arm pivot pins 161 which are mounted between this stationary plate and the outer marginal edge of the annular waste through 108. The peeling arms and their associated peeling mechanism Will be described later herein.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the central column 133, being securely fixed in the boss'134 of the uppermost base portion, will remain stationary during the operation of the machine; as likewise will the annular hub member 140, the thrust ring 153, the upper and lower stemming tube control cams 137 and 138 mounted on the in the form of a stemming tube turret 170 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) which comprises interconnected upper and lower turret portions 171 and 172. The lower turret portion 172 i is journaled on a bearing bushing 173 on the central column 133, and is supported on a thrust washer 174 (Fig.

4) on top of the boss 134.

The lower turret portion 172 has an upstanding marginal wall 175- around it, on the outer side of which are machined twelve similar, equally spaced, flat, stemming tube mounting faces 177 (Figs. 4, 6 and 7). The wall 175, centrally of each of these faces, has openings 178 (Fig. 6) therethrough to receive twelve stemming tube mounting hubs 179. Each stemming tube hub has a marginal mounting flange formed integrally therewith which overlies and seats on the face 177 around the hole in which the hub 179 is mounted. The flange 180 is secured to the turret wall by cap screws 181. The details of the stemming tubes will be described in detail later herein.

A rubber waste trough wiping blade 176 (Fig. 4) which conforms to the shape of the waste trough 108 is fastened to a radially projecting bracket 168 on the lower stemming tube turret portion 172 to sweep peelings and cores produced by the operation of the machine around the trough and out through a waste discharge opening 169 (Fig. 3).

The upper stemming tube turret portion 171 (Figs. 4 and 6) comprises a domed plate or cover portion 182 which is secured to the upper edge of the marginal wall 175 of the lower turret portion 172 by screws 183. The dome -cover plate 182 has a hub portion 184 which is journaled on a bearing sleeve 185 on the stationary column 133. A ring gear 162 (Figs. 4 and 6) for driving a pneumatic control valve mechanism is mounted on the upper stemming tube turret member by screws 163.

The entire stemming tube turret assembly is rotated as a unit at a constant speed in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) during operation of the machine by means of a gear mechanism which is indicated generally in Fig. 4 by the reference numeral 186. This gear mechanism is fully disclosed in the above-mentioned parent application.

Stemming tube turret and stemming tubes.

The stemming tubes 139 (Figs. 4, 6,7 and 9 to 22111- clusive) are twelve in number and, as previously set a constant speed about the axis of this column by the gear mechanism 186.

Each stemming tube hub 179 (Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9) has a stemming tube housing in the form of a supporting bushing 582 (Fig. 6) journaled therein. The outer end of the stemming tube supporting bushing 582 has a gear case 583 formed therein, with a removable complementary cap portion 584 (Figs. 9 and 10) adapted to be secured thereon by screws 585.

A worm gear 587 and corresponding spiral gear 588 are mounted in each gear case thus formed. The Worm gear 587 is cut in the outer end of the stemming tube drive shaft 154 which is journaled in bearing sleeves 590 and 591 (Fig. 6) in the stemming tube support bushing 582. The worms and their intermeshing spiral gears of alternate stemming tubes about the stemming tube turret are of opposite hand, so that, since the stemming tube drive shafts are all rotated in the sarne direction, alternate stemming tubes will be rotated in opposite directions. The

rrling tube 139 is adapted to be inserted (-Fig. 8). 4 stemming tubeispiral-gear. 583113215 a hub portion 589' .,Z1(Figs.f8,';and,9) .journaled'in bushings 593 and 5&4 which are mounted in complementary semicircular recesses'in' pre r 7 1 reason for this will be brought out later herein in connec tion with an explanation of the operation of the pear peeling mechanism. a I I The spiral gear 588 on the stemming tube has its axis at right'angles to that ofthe stemming tube. drive shaft 154, and has an axial bore therethrough in which a stem- The th'ef endjof each gear casing- 583" and .itsicap 584; .An-

'nular sealing members 597 and 598, ofa usual type, also are grippedzin the semicireular'recesses'in the gear case ."portion 583 of the stemmingtube support bushing and in the cap 584 to seal against the admission of fruit juices intothe gear chamber and the escape of lubricant therefrom.

'Ihe'upper end ofthe bore through the hub of the stemming tube support gear 588 is threaded to receive an externally threaded lower end portion of a stemming V tube support sleeve 599 therein. The sleeve 599 is providecl with holes 617 in its upper end to accommodate a usual spannerwrench for screwing the bushing into the bore. A tapered, split, compression sleeve 699, fits into. a

tcorrespondingly tapered portion 601 of the bore in the spiral gear 588 below the threaded sleeve 599 therein, and is forced downwardly by the threaded sleeve 599 as it is screwed. into the hub of the gear 588 to wedge the'split compression sleeve 6% into tight frictional gripping relationwith' the shank portion 692 of the stemming tube 139;; YThej shank of the stemming tube is of a length to f extendentirely. through the hub of'the gear 58$,the lower end of the bore through'the gear 583 being of a size to receive theshank of thestemming'tube with a relatively 1 close sliding fit thereinj Each stemming'tube (Fig. 8) has a pear retaining disk 603 has. aholecentra'lly thereof, and is secured in axially alignedrposition on the. shank or leading end of the sternming 'tube' bya screw 694, which passes through the hole inthe disk-and is screwed into a threaded hole in the end of the stemming tube'shank portion 602. 1 j a gThe oppositezrotation of alternate stemming tubes as .nrehtioned previously herein. causes the contacting surifacesDf the pear and itsretaining disk on the shank end port hub 179. Each stemming tube tilting blocki6l2 has 5693 mounted on its shank. end. Each pear'r'etaining disk laterally opposite each other.

points in their rotativeorbit comprise a camactuatedtile ing block 612. (Figs. 16,- 7 and 17) secured to the inner end of each'-stemmin g tube support bushing 582," and bearing against the inner'end of its stemming tubesupan opening therethrough (Fig. 6) to receive the inner end of the "stemming tube bushing 582, and isjsplit alongone side for clamping tothe bushing. The tilting block is secured to the bushing 582 by a key 614 (Fig. 6) and a clamp screw 613 (Fig. 7). V

Each stemming tube tilting block 612 has three studs 618', 619 and 629 (Fig. 17) mounted to project inwardly therefrom. The axes of these studs are parallel to each other and to the axis of the stemming tube drive shaft 154. The studs are arranged so that theiraxes (-Fig. 15), together with the axis of the stemming tube drive shaft, define a square. Three cam follower rollers 621, 622 and 623 are mounted on the studs 618, 619 and 629, respectively. The rollers 621 and 622 being equally distant, axially, from the stemming tube drive shaft 154 along two sides of the square defined by them, are mounted The third roller 623 however (Fig. 15) being spaced from the axis of the stemming tube drive shaft" along the diagonal of the square defined by the axes of the three rollers, the axis of the stemming tube drive shaft 154 is ofiset axially-inwardly from the other two rollers 621 and 622' (Figil'7) in order that=it can follow different portions of the cam 35' faces from those followed by the rolle rs 621 and 622 during tilting movements of the stemming tube tilting 612 aBQutThB of the stemming tube-d iv shaft 154.

TThe upper and lower cam plates and 138 (Figs. 4 and 6) for tilting'the blocks 612 and their associated stemming tubes, are stationary as mentioned previously herein, beingxaflixed'to' thestationary hubldll on the central tubular column 133, .Cam faces 63; "and 631 621, 622and- 623 onthetiltingv block 612, so that the of the-stemming tubejnext rearwardly thereof to travel in. -the-sarne linear direction, This zone of cont act beu heidisk andthe 'pear may beeither closer to or farthe away from the a dal center of rotatiou'of the disk fthaniit, is from that of the pear. This difference may 'produce .eitherafdrag, orfm'ay tend to assist the rotative gdfnv g elfectof thestemming tube upon which the pear mp al e d; Therefore "topreventithe torquethus prosin, efiec't'k'eyedfto its supporting stemming tube by tongues615 on the disk (Fig. 8) which are inserted in "endwise notches 616 in the stemming tube shank."

7 7 The up per portion of each stemming tube, upon which 1 the pears areirnpaled, has an oval'ftubular upper end porter; as (Fig.5) withthe upper edge .607 thereof sharpe ne'd toa cuttingledge'for severing the stem and stem fib'res from the flesh ofthe pear as it is impaled thereon.

: slopinglower end 609 which acts as a cam to eject any I stempor'tionwhich may tend to remainfin the stemming tube after a pea'r preparation .cycle is completed. Any

cdrmiajunscre iag the disks, each retaining disk 603 V Lst ernmihg;tub e has, afserr'li-tubular portion 608 to ide longitudinalstrength and still to allow the severed stems to" fall clear. The semi-tubular portion 698 has. a

(Figs. 18, 19 and 20) of thesegt'wo camplates are each approximately twice as'wide as thecam' followerrrollers inwardly'offset diagonally located ro ller.623 canL-ride on the inner porti onsofthese' cam faces, while the other two rollers '621 and'622 can ride-on the; outer portions "As will be seenin the developed side elevational yiew =of Fig. 19, the cam-track 632, definedby the cam'faces 1 630 and 631, hasa high portion 633 and a low portion 634-. :Thiscam track, as will be noted'inFi-gs. 11 to 16,

is of a height to receive the rollers 621, 622'a11d623 therebet'ween when the square defined by the axes of the Trollers and the stemming;tube;;driveshaft:"has:two sides thereof horizonta-l and the Fig.15. W V The stemming tube drive shafts j 154 'f ollow'a continuous circular horizontal pathjor orbit;- alonggthe'hrean other two. sides upright as t in .central plane of the cam track 632. 7 Thus, when the rollers are in the .lowportion 634 of the Cami-rack (Figs. l3, 14and l5) they willfswing the stemming tube sup qrt bushings to tilt the stemming tube to thehori- Zontal position indicated by: the arrows 6 35 in these figures; and when the rollers are in the high portion 633 such stem will be ramm d outof the semi-tubular portion 6G3 when it is subjected to 'endwise pressure by the impaling of the next pear on thesteniming tube.

- A pair oflwing blades610 and 611 with s'harpenedupper edges extend laterally from the sides of the semi-tubular vportion 603 of the stemming tube. These blades preyentlhepears, from turnipg' on the stemming tubes.

I to tilt the stemming tubes upright.

' of the cam track (Fig. 11) the bushings 58 2 will be swung The tilting movement of the stemmingtubes from upright to the horizontal (Fig. 12) and the reverse (Fig.

16) is accomplished'by sloping the inner and outer I portions'of thecamt-rackssubstantially as shown, the

track slopes preferably being designed tosmaintain all threerollers incontact therewithfiuring-amajorz portion 9 of the tilting movements. The curvature of each sloping portion of the cam track 632 is determined in accordance with usual design practice to accommodate the combined orbital and pivotally swinging movements of the different rollers according to their repective arcs of travel.

During the time the pears are being impaled on their stemming tubes, and also while they are being transferred from the stemming tubes to the splitting blades in a mannerdescribed in the parent application, the stemming tubes are in an upright position (Fig. 11) and the then uppermost rollers 621 and 623 are pressed forcibly downwardly by four, similar spring pressed segments 626, 627, 628 and 629 (Figs. 6, 20, 21 and 22) mounted in gaps provided therefor in the upper cam plate 137. Each spring pressed segment has a positioning pin 647 (Figs. 21 and 22) mounted to extend downwardly from the inner end thereof, and these pins are inserted with a loose wobble fit in locating holes provided in the cam track plate 137 inwardly of the gaps in the cam track provided to receive the segments. Each segment has a pair of cap screws 637 screwed into the under side thereof. These screws pass through holes in the upper cam plate 137 and are urged downwardly by coil springs 644 which surround the cap screws 637 and are held in compression between washers 636 beneath the heads of the cap screws and the bottoms of a pair of recesses 645 provided in the plate 137 around each of the holes for the cap screws 644.

The under, roller engaging faces of these spring pressed cam track segments (Figs. 6 and 20) are less than the full width of the upper cam face 630. The reason for making the faces of these segments narrower than the remainder of the cam track is to facilitate equalizing the pressure on both rollers 621 and 623 (Fig. 6). p

The stemming tube drive shaft 154 is locked against rotation throughout its entire orbit except during the peeling phase thereof, during which time it is slowly rotated through. one complete revolution. This peeling phase occurs when the stemming tube is in the horizontal position which, as mentioned previously herein, is during the time the tilting rollers 621, 622 and 623 are in the low portion 634 of the cam track 632 (Fig. 19).

Rotation of the stemming tube about its axis during the peeling phase of its orbit is accomplished by a bevel spur gear 638 (Figs. 6, 7 and llto 17) which is secured by a key 639 (Fig. 6) on the reduced inner end of the stemming tube drive shaft 154 for rotativc engagement by the segmental, arcuate, toothed rack 151 (Figs. 4, 7, l3, l4 and 18) while the stemming tube is in the horizontal position. During the remainder of its orbit the stemming tube is locked against rotation by a locking cam follower 640 (Fig. 6) which is mounted on the inner end of the stemming tube drive shaft and is secured to the bevel gear 638 by a locking pin 641. Both the bevel gear 638 and the locking cam follower 640 are secured, by a nut 642 and lock washer 643, against the shoulder formed by the ofiset at the outer end of the reduced inner end portion of the stemming tube drive shaft.

The locking cam follower 640 rides on the cam face of the ring cam 152(Figs. 6, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19) except during the time the stemming tube drive gear 638 is in engagement with its rack 151. During; the rack engaging portion of its orbit the cam ring 152 is cut away (Figs. 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19) to free the stemming tube drive shaft for rotation. The number of teeth in the stemming tube rotating spur gear 638 and its actuating rack 151 are proportioned relatively to the gear ratio of the stemming tube drive worm 587 and its associated helical gear 588, which rotate the stemming tube 139 about its axis. The stemming tube is to be rotated through one complete revolution about its axis during each complete rotative cycle of the machine. Therefore, if the spur gear 638 makes three rotations during its passage over the rack 151, the drive from the worm gear 587 to the stemming tube supporting helical gear 588 will be in the ratio of one to three.

Peeling mechanism The peeling mechanism is shown best in Figs. 4, and 23 to 25 inclusive. In conjunction with these figures, Figure 7 shows the positions of the stemming tubes at different stages of their orbit of travel around the machine.

Each of twelve peeling arm assemblies 650 is pivoted on one of the vertical pivot pins or rods 161 (Figs. 1 and 25). The upper end of each pivot rod 161 is secured to the stationary peeling arm support plate 157 by a screw 655 which passes through a hole in the plate and is screwed into a threaded hole in the upper end of the pivotal mounting rod 161, while the lower end of the pivot rod is similarly connected to the outer edge of the annular waste trough 108.

Each peeling arm assembly 650 (Fig. 25) comprises a hub portion 651 with an inwardly and downwardly extending arm portion 652. A support collar 653 secured to the pivot rod 161 by a set screw 654 supports the hub 651 in adjusted position. A spring connected torque arm 657 is formed integrally with the hub portion 651 and extends diagonally outwardly from the hub. This diagonal spring connected torque arm 657 has an upwardly bent outer end portion 658, through a hole in which is inserted the threaded shank of a spring securing hook 659. A nut 660 is screwed onto the threaded shank of the hook to hold it in endwise adjusted position in the spring connected arm 657, and a rubber bumper 661 (Fig. 25 is interposed between the nut 66!) and the arm.

A coil spring 662 has a hook formed on one end thereof hooked into the securing hook 659, the other or forward end of the spring being hooked onto a pin (Fig. 24) mounted on the under side of the peeling arm support plate 157 to hold the spring in tension, and there by to urge the peeling arm to swing in a counterclockwise direction or inwardly about its pivot rod 161 as shown in Figs. 23 and 24.

A peeling knife head assembly 667 (Fig. 25 is mounted on the inner or free end of each arm portion 652, see also Fig. 24. The peeling knife heads which are fully described in the parent application, are generally similar to those described in Patent No. 2,139,704 to A. R; Thompson et a1. issued December 13, 1938. The parts for a peeling knife head assembly and the mounting therefor are shown assembled in Fig. 25.

In general each peeling knife head assembly 667 (Fig. 25 comprises a curved blade 698 secured in spaced support members 674 and 681 which are mounted for free swinging movement over a limited angular range in a bracket 668 provided on the end of the arm portion 652. A semi-cylindrical cam follower block 670 is secured to and extends downwardly from the bracket 668. A concave guide roller spool 679 is rotatably mounted in the support members 674- and 681 near the blade 698. The curvature of the blade follows in general the curvature of the roller and both are designed so that the blade will take a peeling cut of the proper depth, width, and curvature from the pears. The pivotal mounting axis of the peeling head assembly 667 in the bracket 668 is eccentric to that of the roller 679 so that the roller has a caster effect which swings the blade to proper peeling position when the peeling arm assembly 650 is spring pressed into engagement with a pear. Complete structural details of the peeling head assembly are contained in the above mentioned parent application.

For producing an added inward torque on each peeling arm 65 2 at the moment its associated peeling head assembly passes the line of maximum girth of the pear and swings inwardly over the calyx end thereof, a triangular bell crank lever 710 (Figs. 24 and 25 is pivoted on the upper end of each of the peeling arm support rods 161 above the hub 651 and the peeling arm. The bell 

